Cherry seeder or pitter.



J. H. STANFIELD.

CHERRY SEEDER OR II'ITER.

APPLIUATION FILED 10110.30, 1910.

Patented Aug. 4, 1914.

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J. H. STANFIELIL CHERRY SEEDER-OB PITTBR. APPLIOATION rump 1020.30, 1910.

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J. H. STANFIELD.

0111mm! SEBDER 0B. PITTER.

APPLICATION IILED D20. 30, 1010.

1,105,858. Patented Aug 1, 191a J. H. STANPIBLD. CHERRY szzamm 0R mun.

APPLICATION FILED 13110.3(),1910. 1,105,858n Patented Aug/1, 1914:.

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J. H. STANFIELD.

CHERRY SEEDEE 0B. PITTHR.

APPLIOATION FILED D110. 30, 1910.

l ,1 05,858. Patented Aug. 4, 1914,

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STATES JASPER H. STANFIELD, OF MUSIKEGON,

MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 MICHIGAN WASHING MACHINE COMPANY, 013 MUSKEGON HEIGHTS, -MICHI- CHAN, AND ONE-FOURTH TO WILLIAM H. BOZELL, OF MUSKEGON, MICHIGAN.

CHERRY $EEDER 0R PITTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 30, 1910. Serial No. 600,202.

out seriously marriug or injuring the ap-.

pearonce of the fruit.

To this end my inventlon consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings wherein like or similar reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts: Figure l is a plan. view of my machine. Fig. 2 is a s de elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a section takenv substantially on line 3--3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on line4.-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail taken substantially on line 5-5 of Fig. et. Fig. 6 is a perspective detail of the preferred form of pitting needle for my device. Fig; 7 is a section taken substantially on line 7-7 of Fig. 8. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the frame of mydevice showing the discharge chute for the pitted fruit. Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail taken substantially on the same line as Fig. 4. Fi 10 is a sectional detail taken substan: tially on line 9-9 of Fig. l.

In the preferred form shown in the drawings my device consists of a frame 1 of an desiredform or construction provided wit 1 a. movable circular cell plate 2 having a I)ll1- rality of apertures 3-3 near its periphery evenly spaced from each other and each tapering slightly toward-the lower side of the. plate. The cell pljatp? may be mounted upon'tho frame 1 in any suitable manner. As shown a shaft 4 is rigidly mounted in a suitable socket or bez'u'ing 5 upon the frame and rigidly held in the socket by a setscrew (5 or other suitable means extending through the wall of the srwlretaudadapted to engage the shaft and hold it an any desired position. The upper end of the shaft 4 is reduced in diameter sufiiciently to enter the hub7 of the plate 2 and is provided with a shoulder 8 adapted to engage the.lower end of the hub 7 to serve as a bearing and support the plate in position. In the preferred construction the central opening in the plate 2 is counter-bored at the upper side of the plate and a cap-screw 9 is provided having a head of suitable size to fit within the counter-bore. The screw 9 is positioned in a longitudinal opcningin the end of the shaft 4 and coiiperates with the shoulder 8 toaccurately control the'position of the plate 11 on t ie shaft.

In t e preferred construction a guard close proximity to the lower side of the plate 2 toclose the lower ends of. all of the openings 3 e-x'cept approximately one-quarter of the openings where the guard 10 is deflected downward and serves as a spout to direct any cherries or fruit from the apertures 3 into a suitable receptacle as the apertures are successively brought into position over this portion of the guard.

Any suitable means may be provided for controlling the position and movements of the cell plate 2. In the referred construction, a plurality oftcet 11 are provided at the periphery of the cellplate, one for each, aperture 3. The outer end of each tooth is concave as at 12. A shaft 14 is mounted in a suitable bearing or socket 15 teeth 11 to lock the plate 2 in position is: rotatably mounted upon the upper end of the shaft 14. A part at one side of the cam :17 is cut away as at 18 and a tooth 19 is Patented Aug. 4, 191 1. i

proviued near the center of the cut away portion so that as the cam 17 is rotated the tooth 19 Will successively engage the sides of the teeth 11 and move the plate 2 a single space for each rotation of the cam After each movement of the plate 2 the cylindrical portion of the cam 17 will onthe concave part 12 of the next, tooth and again positively lock the plate 1 in position until the tooth 15) again arrives in positiou to engage the side of a tooth 11: This arrangement which is an adaptation of the well known Geneva movement positively controls the position of the plate at all times and. prevents the possibility of any failureto properly position the plate. Any suitable means may be provided to rotate the cam 17. In the form shown the upper end of the shaft let is sli htly reduced in size as at and a bevel gear 21 is mounted upon the reduccd portion of the shaft and rigidly secured to the cam 17. The upper face of the cam 17 is counterhored and a cap-screw 22 having a head oil suitable size to fit within tho counter bore of the cam is fitted in a longitmlinal opening in the end of the shaft 14 to prevent Longitudinal movement of the cum and gear 21'.

A shailt 2555 is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings -24: on theframe 1, and :1 hr vied gear so adapted to coiiporate with tho hzvel gear 21 is rigidly mounted upon tho 23, It spur gear 26 is provided at the opposite end sit the shaft 23adapte l to coi'iporate with a spur gear 96 upon a sl ai suitably mounted upon the frame 1. suhstaurially 'iarullel to the shaft 23 so.

I that a movement of the spur gear 26 will roducc a corresponding movement of the n: 11'" and the cell plate 2. The several run-ls are so constructcd and arranged that the apertures P, in the cell plate 2 are succrssively brought to a certain fixed position "where suitable i'ucchauisiu is provided to extracl the pit or seed from the cherryor similar fruit positioned in each aperture. Any suitable pitting; 0: may be provided for t Purpose. In the form shou'n a pair of modes 13-13 are provided at substantial y right angles to the face of the cell. platc 9 with a slide 528 mounted between the guides and adapted to move longitudinally thereof.

A crank shaft 30 is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 31. in the frame 1 with a disk rigidly secured. to the end of the shaft adjacent to thoslido 28. A crank pin 33 is provided upon the disk carrying a roll r of: suitablo size to enter a trausverse slot 29 in the slide so that when -thc shaft 30 isrotated the desired movementwill be imported to the slide. The opposite od of the" shaft 30 is provided with a gear wheel. arranlzed to mesh and cotiperal'e with the gear 26 upon the shaftiQT- .A pit- .sccding incchz'inism' ting needle 36 is positioned substantially parallel to the guides 13 and rigidly secured to the slide 28. In the preferred construction the pitting needle is of cross shaped section with the free end of the use dle concave, so that when the needle is thrust in a cherry or other fruit the engage ment of the working face of the needle with the surface of the fruit or with the pit or seed will tend to center the fruit upon the needle and thereby secure the desired operation of the device. The several'parts are so constructed and arranged that when the shaft 27 is rotated. the apertures upon the cell plate will. be successively brought into the path of the pitting noodle when the necdle is near the upper limit of its movement. The plate will then be held in position durlug" the downward movement of the pitting ncedlowhich passes centrally through an aperture uutilits free and extends slightly below the plate 10 and is retracted to clear the cell plate. During the remainder of the upward movement of the pitting needle the cell plate is moved to bringthe next aperture into position in the path of the pitting needle. In the preferred construction to prevent the fruit from remaining on the pitting needle and being lifted out of the aperture an upper guard plate 37 is rigidly and adjustably secured to the frame 1 sub stantially parallel. to the lower guard 10,

positioned to cover the upper end of the apertures in the cell plate 2 at the pitting needle. An opening 38 is provided in the upper guard substantially in line with the opening in the lower guard 10 through which the free end of the pitting" needle protrudes when the slide 27 is at the lower limit of its movement. Any suitable means may he providcd to support the underside oi? the fruitand prcvelnt any portion of the fruit being torn away and forced through the opening 39 in the plate 1.0. In the form shown a channel or slot 4:0Iis provided in the frame 1 substantially parallel to the guard 10 and immediately beneath it.

A slide 41. is snugly fitted to the channel 40 and provided with an opening 4-2 ar ranged to register with the opening 39. .The slide 41 'is preferably provided with a lateral slot or if preferred may be formed in two parts connected by screws or bolts 48 as shown in 5 with a piece of rubber or resilient material positioned intermediate its top and bottomsurface 42 so that the entire under surface or" any fruit positionedin an aperture in line with the pitting heedle will he supported by the resilient material which is preferably provided with a pair of slits at right angles to each other forming a cross adaptcdto permit the pitting needle to be forced through the material but preventing of the fruitfrom passing through. Inthe preferred construction one end of Liaisons the slide ll is arranged to engage a permir nent stop at the end of the channel l0 and a latch provided to e ru'e the opyui nllit! end of the slide to igully hold the slide in position with the opening therein accurately registering with the opening t lt) in the lm uard l0.

in thc pr .ferrc-il construction a plunger 46 is also provided upon the slide arranged to enter an aperture in the cell plate which has just. passed the pitting, ll'ltftlltllllflll at each downward movement of the slide so. The "a 1- ol. the plunger l6 reaohcs a point slightly lvelow the lower face of the cell plate at the limit of each (lOWllWltltl Il'H'WQ uicnt, so that in case the fruit msitioncd in the aperture adheres for any comic to the walls of the aperture it will be detached at.

this point:

In the preferred construction the cell plate serves as the bottom of a hopper or re el lincontaining; the fruit to be opcri'ited upon. shown the side walls l? of the vessel extend from a point in close proximity to the upper face of the cell .plate upward and outward to form a hopper with a part; in upon the wall. 47 rigidly secured to the frame 1 hold the wall in position.

The wall 4-? is formed and positioned that the apertures 23 for a portion of each rotation are positioned Within "the well so that any fruit within the hopper will fall by gravity into the several apertures. It is however desirable to permit but one cherry or other article to enter an aperture and to reuiain therein until the aperture pa s the pitting needle. For this purpose the trame .l of my machine is so formed that the surface of the cell plate 2 is inclined. at. an. angle of approximately degrees and a radial (lPJlES-EilOl'l 4-9 is formed in the upper face of the cell plate for each aperture 3. The depressions -19 each increase in depth outward and terminate at one'o'l the open turcs leaving suliicient thickness at the inner wall of the aperture to retain a single cherry in the aperture, but leaving a suitable channcl for any other cherries in the aperture to escape and roll down to the low side of the hopper. In practice this arrangement has been found very efficient and practically prevents all diiliculty from this cause, but where it is desired to still further provide for removing surplus fruit from the apertures a shaft is mounted in a suitable bearing 51 rigidly attached to the frame 1 with a brush 52 in position to sweep the upper s1deof the plate 2' and force any surplus cherries out of the apertures toward the center of the plate. The opposite end of the shaft 50 is provided with a sheave or pulley 53 connected by a belt or band 5i to a pulley 55 upon the shaft 23 so that rotations of the shaft will corrcspondi'ngly rotate the brush 52 as described.

.iiny suitable means may be provided for rotating theigear 20. In the preferred construction the shaft; 27 is rigidly mounted upon the frame 1 and the gear 26 is rotatahly mounted thereon and provided with an extended huh having a plurality of teeth or dcutils ht) flu-med upon its outer end. fl. belt uhecl ill is also rotatably mounted upon the shall 27 and. provided with an extended hub ('52 having a longitudinally nmvablc head 63 mounted thereon and arranged to rotate therewith, while the Outer time at the head 3 is provided with a plurality oi. teeth or dcntils (i l adapted to cooperate with the teeth upon the gear 26 so that when the head 63 is moved into engaging position, a rotation of the wheel 61 will produce a corresponding rotation of the gear 26. Suitable means are preferahly provided for controlling the longitudinal position of the head 63, in the form shown a groove 65 is formed in the head and a bifurcated lever (36 is pivotally mounted upon a bracket 67 upon the frame l. The forked end of the lever 66 is arranged to receive the head 63 between the forked parts which are preferably provided with suitable pins 08 or other convenient means extending into the groove 65 to .control the position of the head, the whole arrangement constituting the well known jaw clutch for detachably connecting the pulley and gear. Obviously with my device as above described, fruit. of a suitable size tofairly fill the several apertures 3 will be satisfactorily operated upon as any fruit positioned in the apertures will be held in a central position by engagement with the walls of the aperture; where however, the fruit to be operated on is not of uniform size it is obvious that the small fruit will tend to roll to the lower side of the aperture and thus in some cases tend to interfere with the proper operation of the device by not properly centering with the pitting needle. In practice it has been found that the concave face of the pitting needle tends to obviate this difficulty. To make the operation of the device substantially certain however, I prefer to construct the several parts as shown in Fig. 8, so that fruit of any size will automatically center itself in the apertures before'thc pittingneedle engages the same. Any suitable menus may be provided for this purpose. As shown, the aperture 39 in the plate 10 and the openinn 42 in the upper side of the slide 41 is countersunk as shown at 69 the angle of the countersink being preferably just sullicieut to cause a cherry or other article in the aperture to roll to the center of the aperture, where it engages the opposite wall of the countersink thereby aocurately centerin: the same.

Having thus described my improvement x'llt is obvious that various immaterial 'modi fications may be made in my device without departing'from the spirit of my invention, hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form or construction shown.

What-l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1.. In a device of the kind described, a rotatable cell plate provided'with .a plurality of radial depressions in its face each terminating near the periphery of the plate in a tapering circular fruit receiving aperture extending through the plate, in combination with a pair of stationary guards adapted to substantially close a portion of said apertures, one positioned below and the other above said plate, and means adapted to control the position and movements of said'plate.

2. In a device of the kind described, a rotatable cell plate provided with a plurality of radial depressions in its face each.

terminating near the periphery of the plate in a fruit receiving aperture extending through the plate, in combination with a pair of stationary guards, one positioned below and closing the lower ends of all but approximately one quarter of said apertures and the other positioned above and in close proximity to said cell plate, and means adapted to cont the position and movements of said plate.

3. In a device of the kind described, an inclinedrotatable cell plate provided with a plurality of radial depressions in its face each terminating near the periphery of the platein an aperture extending through the plate, in combination, with a pair of stationary guards adapted to substantially close both ends of a part of said aperture. one positioned below and the other above said cell plate, and means adapted to engage and remove from said apertures any ob'iect projecting above the surface of said cell plate, and means adapted to control the position and movements of said plate.

. 4. In a device of the kind described, a rotatable cell plate provided with a plurality of radial depressions in its face each terminating near the periphery of the plate in a fruit receiving aperture extending through the plate. in combination with a pair of stationary guards adapted to substantially close a portion of said apertures, one positioned below and the other above said cell plate and a rotatable brush adapted to engage and remove from said cells any object projecting above the surface of said cell plate, means for rotating said brush and means adapted to control the position and movements 01'? said cell plate.

In a device of the kind described. a rotatable cell plate provided with a plurality of depressions in its face each increas ing in depth outward and terminating near the periphery of the plate in a tapering circular aperture extending through the plate, in combination with a pair of stationary guards adapted to substantially close both ends of a part of said apertures, one positioned below and the other above said plate, and, means adapted to control the position and movements of said plate.

6. To a device of "the kind dcscribedb'a rotatable cell plate provided with a plurality of depressions in its face each increasing in depth outward and terminating near the periphery of the plate in a tapering circular aperture extending through the plate, in combination with a pair of stationary guards adapted to substantially close both ends of a part v0t said apertures one positioned below and closing the lowe'r'aends of all but. approximately one-quartet pf said apertures and the other positioned above the position and movements of said plate.

7. In a device of the kind described, an inclined rotatable cell plate provided with a plurality of evenly spaced radial depressions in its face each terminating near the periphery of the plate in an aperture exwith a pair of stationary guards adapted to substantially close both ends of a part of said apertures one positioned below and closing the lower ends of all but approximately one-quarter of said apertures and the other positioned above said plate, and means adapted to control the position and movements of said plate.

8. In a device of the kind described, a rotatable cell plate provided with a plurality of radial depressions in its face each terminating near the periphery of the plate in a fruit receiving aperture extending through the plate, in combination with a pair of statioi'lary guards adapted to substantially close a portion-0f said apertures one positionedbelow and the other above said cell plate,.said guards being each proyidcd with an opening arranged in transverse alinemcnt with the opening in the other guard and with any of the apertures plate.

- 9. In a device of the kind described, a movable inclined cell plate provided with a plurality of fruit receiving apertures therethrough, in combination with a pair tially close both ends of a part of, said apertures, one positioned below and the other above said cell plate, means adapted to con tinuously engiige and positively control the i position and movements of said plate and said. cell plate, and means adapted to control tending through the plate, in combination in said cell plate. and means adapted to" control the pos1 t1on and movements of said of stationary guards adapted to substan a pitting knife and plunger operating through the guard above said cell plate upon the fruit positioned in said aperture.

10. In a device of the kind described, a movable cell plate provided with a plural ity of apertures thorethrough, in combimv tion with a pair of stationary guards, one positioned below and the other above said cell plate, said guards being each provided with an opening extending theretln'ough, arranged in transverse alinement with the opeuingin the other guard, the opening in the lower guard being counter-sunk, adjacent said cell plaie,'and means adapted to engage and control the position and'movements oi'said plate.

11. In a device of the kind described, a movable cell plate provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough, in combination with a pair of stationary guards adapted to substantially close both ends of a part of said apertures, one positioned below and the other above said cell plate, said guards being each provided with an openingtherethrough arranged in transverse alinement with the opening in the other guard, the opening in the lower guard plate being provided with a resilient closure adapted to yieldingly resist the passage of an object through the opening, and means adapted to control the position and ,movements of said cell plate.

12. In a device of the kind described, an inclined movable cell plate provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough, in com-- bination with a pair of stationary guards adapted to substantially close both ends of a part of said apertures one positioned below and the other positioned above said cell plate said guards being each pin ided with an opening extending therethrough arranged in transverse alinement with the opening in the other guard the openin in the lower guard'being countersunk M jaeent the cell plate and provided with a resilient closure adapted to yieldingly resist the passage of an object therethrough, and means adapted to control the positlon and movements of said cell plate. p a

13. In a device of the kind described, a movable cell plate provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough, in combination with a pair of stationary guards adapted to substantially close both ends of a part of said apertures, one positioned below and the other above said cell plate, said guards being each provided with an opening extending therethrough arranged in transverse ahnc rnent with the opening in the other guard, and means upon thelower guard adapted to centralize a spherical body with the axis common to said openings,

14;. In a device of the kind described, an inclined movable cell plate provided with a plurality of apertures therethrough, in combination with a pair of stationary guards inclined movable cell plate provided with a plurality of a iertures extending therethrough, in com ination with a pair of stationary uards adapted to substantially close both on s of a partof said apertures one positioned below and the other above said cell plate, said guards being each provided with an opening extending therethrou 'h arranged in transverse ahnement witi the opening in the other guard, the opening in the lower guard being provided with a resilient closiire adapted to yieldingly resist the passage at an object through the opening, and means upon said lower guard plate adapted to centralize a spherical body with the axis common to said openings.

16. In a device of the kind described, a movable cell plate provided with a plurality of apertures extending therethrougb, in combination with a pair of stationery guards adapted to substantially close both ends of a part of: said apertures one positioned be low and the other above said cell plate, each guard being provided with an opening extending therethrcugh arranged in transverse alinemeint with the opening in the other guard, the opening in the lower guard being provided with a resilient closureextend ing across said o ening intermediate its ends adapted to yielc'ngly resist the passage of an object through the opening, and means upon said guard adaitcd to automatically centralize a sphcrica body with the axis common to said openings.

17. In a pitting machine a disk shaped rotatable feed plate having a plurality of fruit receiving cells therein and a guart substan' tially closing the upper ends of a plurallty of said cells in combination with a rec1procaring Incntber positioned above said guard, and a pitting knife and plunger attached to said member and operating through sald guard upon the fruit positioned in said cells,

1'8. In a, pitting machine, a dish shaped rotatable diced plate having a plurality of downwardly tapering fruit receiving cells therein and a guard substantially closing the upper ends oi a plurality of said cells In combination with a member positioned above said hard and a pitting knife and plunger attached to said member in position to en tcr adjacent cells in said feed plate and operating through said guard upon the fruit 1 adapted to resiliently resist the passage pf positioned in said cell i an article therethrough.

19. In a device of the kind described a In testimony whereof, I have hereunto cell plate provided with an Opening tlieresigned my name in the presence of two sub- 5 thrciu'gh and a guard pgsitifineld below and scribing witnesses.

in c oseproximity to'sai ee pate eemprisa 0 w i u 1 ing a rigid plate having a countersunk open- Jhsi LR (OTALB IDLE)" inf; therethrough and a, pad positioned be- Witnesses: low and attached to said rigid plate and hev- EMERIC A. HALLEY,

10 ing a slit registering with said opening and OTTO A. BURANDT. 

